​Immigration Information OnlineOur denomination has an Office for Immigration at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, KY. If you are interested in learning the root causes for the Central American asylum seekers making their way to the USA, please watch the film www.genesisofexodusfilm.com which was created by our denomination. Also, for more information please look on Facebook for:Presbyterians for Just Immigration.

Hammond Presbyterians at WorshipAt the November session meeting it was decided that during the winter months following Christmas the congregation will remain in the sanctuary for Sunday morning worship. The decision will be revisited at the January session meeting as to how things are working out. The various things taken into consideration to make the determination as to the best worship space for our current congregation included attendance, care for active children, comfort of worshipers, warmth, welcome for everyone being as inclusive as possible. May we be flexible and hospitable! Also, please use the side entrance near the chapel when the weather is nasty and there is potential for ice.

Sharing the LightDuring the weeks of Advent each person attending worship will be given a paper star to take home and decorate to then return to the church by Sunday, December 23. The stars will be hung on our Christmas Tree during the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.Please be creative! Please decorate a star and return it even if you are unable to attend the Christmas Eve service. Thank you!

Holiday DecorationsMany thanks to the Deacons for coordinating the decorating of the church sanctuary and chapel for the holidays! The Deacons provided a new Christmas Tree for the sanctuary. Many hands brought together a beautiful work on Sunday, December 2 after coffee hour. The chapel is just about ready for Breakfast with Santa on December 8. The Advent Wreath is lighting the way through the season as we live into Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.

December 9 Second Sunday of AdventDecember 16 Third Sunday of Advent-with extra special music, the Children’s Program led by our Sunday School, a Christmas Cookie Coffee Hour provided by the Deacons, and Christmas Caroling in town during the afternoon.December 23 Fourth Sunday of AdventDecember 24 Candlelight Service 7:00 PM

​CHRISTMAS MISSION TREE

We are once again collecting donations for various mission projects. These may be given instead of or in addition to poinsettias. Some gift ideas and donation amounts are listed below.10 jerry cans for water $25.00Farming tools $10.00School suppliesfor Displaced student $30.00Family of chickens $25.00Feed a child for a year $40.00Share of large animal $20.00Sewing Machine $50.00Kitchen equipment $25.00Two pairs rabbits $25.00Educate a child $25.00Seeds and Tools $50.00Soccer balls $20.00There will be donation forms in the dining room. Please let me know your choices by Dec. 16th. Checks should be made out to Hammond Presbyterian Church with Mission Tree on memo line on check. If you wish to give memorial or honorary plants for the sanctuary, please give names to me by Dec. 16th Let’s share our Christmas spirit with those who are less fortunate.

Joan Hadlock 315/324-5517FOOD PANTRY

The next Hammond Food Pantry will be Thursday, Dec. 20th from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Along with the regular food distribution, we will have fruit bags, bags of hygiene items, and gifts for children of Food Pantry families. The January Food Pantry will be Thurs. Jan. 24th.Also on Dec. 20th will be the delivery of Food Sense items ordered ahead of time. Food Sense is for anyone who orders and pays for their order ahead of time. There are Food Sense menus available giving the items for the month. These are usually 3-4 meats, fresh produce, meal choices and other goods. For further information, contact Joan Hadlock 324-5517.WRAPPING PJ’s We will be having a pajama wrapping “party” on Monday, Dec. 10th in the chapel at 9:00 a.m. We have about 40 pairs of pajamas to wrap as well as filling the Food Pantry family bags. All help is greatly appreciated!

Joan HadlockMy Favorite Things

By Tara Atherton

My daughter has been asking for snow since August. The morning we got a good cover of snow, she was so excited that she wanted me to sing about it. I sing about everything, so of course I broke out into song the minute she asked and the first words out of my mouth are, “Raindrops on roses, And whiskers on kittensBright copper kettles and warm woolen mittensBrown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things….” and my daughter looked at me bright eyed with how quickly I “came up” with a song. I sang the song a few times as we got ourselves ready for the day, when I hear her singing to herself, “When the dog bites, when the beetles sing…” and I catch myself giggling at how much she enjoyed the song on and how happy she was that the snow showed up to sing about it. The holidays are coming and I can hardly being the adult in the house when my inner child is bouncing around, ready to look out into the nights sky and wait to see Santa’s sleigh fly across the sky.

As much as Christmas time is a special time for children and kids at heart (like myself), there is that time when I get to sit in quiet and be thankful for everything God has given. Christmas is the time where we remember the birth of Jesus. We remember that God helped Mary and Joseph keep Jesus safe from the jealous King. We remember the gifts that the wise men gave; we remember what Christmas is really all about. It’s not about the presents under our tree, the lights on our house, or a few of “my favorite things”. It’s about loving one another and taking care of each other the way God and Jesus wanted us to do for one another. It’s a time to remember all that was sacrificed for us to live the lives that we are given. It’s time to remember that Gods love is eternal and not just for Christmas. And that will always be one of my favorite things to remember.

The annual Per Capita Assessment is based on the membership reported by each church. The 2018 Per Capita fee for our Presbytery has been confirmed at $23.75. Each per capita payment is divided, with $8.11 for General Assembly, $4.10 for the Synod of the North East, and $11.54 going to the Presbytery of Northern New York.

Many members of our church have already made their per capita payments. Our Church must pay per capita for each member, whether or not the member pays us. Your contribution helps Hammond Presbyterian Church cover our portion. Per Capita payments can be mailed to the church or dropped in the Offering with “Per Capita” written in the memo line. If you have any questions about Per Capita, please contact Tara in the church office or Rev. Evon. Thank you!